I want to make a few 44mag wrist breakers.

[Jaak]

I want to make a few 44 MAG wrist breaker cartridges as a "That's not a knife, this is a knife" type thing for the guests that I bring to the range that want to shoot "the big stuff". It has to be something that a six inch Smith and Wesson 629 can handle as I know the 629 is a little more delicate when compared to the Ruger revolvers that are built like tanks.

What powder and bullet combinations have you all had success with when it came to making a few punishing cartridges?

[DougGuy]

If it's hard enough to hurt your wrist, it's hard enough to hurt the Smith after a while. I would relegate that educational experience you want to exhibit to your guests to only a Ruger..

[Stopsign32v]

I don't think this is the best idea. I dunno...Just don't see you getting much advice here on this.

[358429]

Do you have heavy bullets and winchester 296 or hodgdon h110? Check your load data books, and start a load work up.

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[white eagle]

watch your powder charges with 296 and 110 you don't want to start
below listed charges for them then I would use 300+ gr boolits as well

[45-70 Chevroner]

I would stay away from 300gr boolits or J words, in the Smith. You can get a stiff enough load from a 240 or 250 gr. load using 2400. High end loads with that powder and those slugs will be quite enough to get the attention of most novices shooters.

[gwpercle]

Would you like the load Elmer Keith published in his 1936 book " Sixgun Cartridges & Loads"
Wait ... this is Elmer's "44 Special" load ... it's 1936 and the 44 Magnum is still in his mind .
But if you load it in a 44 magnum case you will have a pretty good load .
44 Magnum case .

250 grain cast Plain Base Keith SWC like:
Lyman #429421 or the RCBS #44-250-SWC.

20.0 grs 2400 powder @ 1248 fps

CCI 300 Large Pistol Primer

Remember start low and work up ... this is a maximum load in a couple of manuals ...under the 44 magnum data.
Interesting how Elmer used it in the 44 special... he sorta liked to push the envelope to the very edge .
I'm not sure I would want to go any heavier than a 250 gr, boolit
and 20 grs. 2400 !
Gary

[Winger Ed.]

I'd load regular loads but with the slowest powder.

Then shoot later on in the evening.
A muzzle flash that looks like one from a battle ship is less strain on the gun, and more impressive, than a sore wrist.

[Rug480]

Can’t speak to 44mag specifically but if you’re looking for some wow factor maybe try shooting for the safest, heaviest load that’ll reach 1300-1400fps,

700gr SW500 pills were pretty tame next to full tilt 540gr - the extra velocity kicked it up a notch

[Hanzy4200]

I am not a reloading authority. Verify any data with your manual. Work UP to these max loads.

One of my hotter loads is 23 gr of W-296 under a 245 gr hard cast, magnum primed. Very stout load. I get roughly 1,500 fps out of my Ruger. I would second the opinion of not running these, or other full power pills, through your Smith. You're going to rattle that thing to pieces. Get a second hand Ruger for $500.

If your goal is to put on a show, maybe think of moving up in size. .460 maybe. .500 Linebaugh? I would definitely not put any of these pistols, even the .44, in the hands of anyone inexperience. Not cool.

[BigAlofPa.]

Load some 180 grain cast with 8 grains of unique. Let them shoot 6. Then load some in the gun with 12 grains of unique. It will be fun for them to shoot. And it wont hurt the smith.

[mdi]

When I got my first 44 Mag, nearly 35 years ago, a Ruger SBH I had a raging case of "Magnumitis". I liked the massive muzzle blast and wrist breaking recoil. Next handgun was a 629 and I continued my heavy loads until I had to send it to the factory for barrel resetting (it now only digests 44 Special "+P" level loads.).

But my early "wrist breakers" were with a 265 gr. LRNFP over hefty, near max charges of WC 820. I tried a few 300 gr cast over max Bluedot charges. Lots of noise and recoil, but none over book max. My Ruger and Dan Wesson survived about 8 years of these loads, but my age has mellowed me and I now use much more sane 44 Magnum loads (still 99% cast bullets)...

[Mal Paso]

Wrong Gun! If you want wrist snapping you need a shorter barrel and a Smith won't take Ruger loads for long.

20g of 2400 with a good fitting 260g boolit will do 1350fps from a 6" S&W 629 with about 1,050 ftlbs of energy. My regular load.

[358429]

Mr Jaak what powders and bullets (components) and books and equipment do you have available to you at your reloading bench?

Do you want loud concussion and trash can size fireballs?

Or do you want recoil that's going to make the palm of your hand feel like you slapped a granite countertop really hard?

Maybe you want both[emoji3]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210925/2e645f03c07c7eb1c811b70e9900af83.jpg

I love to share this picture[emoji39]

I think if you set up a hardened steel plate at a safe distance and let your inexperienced friends shoot a 9 millimeter at it, then afterwards shoot the 629, even with moderate 44 special/light 44 mag loads they will obviously see the increase of swinging (energy transfer) due to momentum.

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[405grain]

Pick a load from a reloading manual that is below maximum with a 240 grain bullet and H110. (use a magnum primer) You will get the impressive recoil and muzzle flash. Tell your victims to hold the gun with both hands when firing so they don't hit themselves in the head with the pistol. It's a real good idea to only have one round in the cylinder so some noobie doesn't accidentally fire another round because of the recoil.
After you have panicked your friends with the fireworks show, a much better diet for your 629 would be cast SWC's around 240 grains +/-, over a charge of HS-6 that gives you 44 special +P performance. The gun will like these better, and you will like shooting them better.

[Piedmont]

Would you like the load Elmer Keith published in his 1936 book " Sixgun Cartridges & Loads"
Wait ... this is Elmer's "44 Special" load ... it's 1936 and the 44 Magnum is still in his mind .
But if you load it in a 44 magnum case you will have a pretty good load .
44 Magnum case .

250 grain cast Plain Base Keith SWC like:
Lyman #429421 or the RCBS #44-250-SWC.

20.0 grs 2400 powder @ 1248 fps

CCI 300 Large Pistol Primer

Remember start low and work up ... this is a maximum load in a couple of manuals ...under the 44 magnum data.
Interesting how Elmer used it in the 44 special... he sorta liked to push the envelope to the very edge .
I'm not sure I would want to go any heavier than a 250 gr, boolit
and 20 grs. 2400 !
Gary

Balloon head cases upped the capacity of his .44 Special brass.

[Carrier]

With a 240 XTP and Hodgdon load of 23 to 24 grains of 296 or 110 will get you the flash, bang and recoil you are looking for. I wouldn’t want to shoot a steady diet of them in your 629. But I do know some who have shot hundreds of these loads and don’t seem to have any issues with theirs yet.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Pick a load from a reloading manual that is below maximum with a 240 grain bullet and H110. (use a magnum primer) You will get the impressive recoil and muzzle flash. Tell your victims to hold the gun with both hands when firing so they don't hit themselves in the head with the pistol. It's a real good idea to only have one round in the cylinder so some noobie doesn't accidentally fire another round because of the recoil.
After you have panicked your friends with the fireworks show, a much better diet for your 629 would be cast SWC's around 240 grains +/-, over a charge of HS-6 that gives you 44 special +P performance. The gun will like these better, and you will like shooting them better.

I shoot a 250 gr. boolit over 12 gr. of HS-6 out of my Super Blackhawk. Good utility loading.

[Old Caster]

I find that H110 gives me the most power with a max load and I use a 255 grain Saeco bullet. I shoot them out of an Anaconda and a SBH Ruger and the Ruger kicks way harder and kind of twists in the hand but I had a female exchange student from Japan and I doubt she weighed a hundred pounds and she shot both guns numerous times with one hand. She would handle the Ruger recoil over distance. She would keep her elbow fairly stiff and let the gun go behind her head. With the Colt she wouldn't go past about a 45 degree angle.

When some Japanese engineers came to General Motors for the Fukishima project, I took them shooting and used my girl as a translator and shooting advisor. They were stunned because they would try to hold the gun real still and keeping it from going up much at all and then say, Ow Ow Ow and they each shot two shots, one in each gun so about 12 shots total and she shot the rest of the 50 all with one hand and their accuracy compared to her's was pitiful mostly because she shot in a Bullseye league with me and my son. And by the way, I look both like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood which is quite an accomplishment to look like both considering how different they look from each other.

[44Blam]

I've got the 43-240 AG mold from Accurate and I load that guy with 23.5 grain of W296. It is stout and pushes that boolit right at 1450 fps. I shoot this out of the Ruger - not so sure I would shoot it out of anything else...

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

To answer your question, I would say to load the Lee 310 gr. boolits with a published Max load of H110. It should end up being an accurate load as well ;)

[farmbif]

I guess for folks that want to experience recoil its just too bad you can't rent a 700 Nitro Express for a day.
then the inexperienced can mess up wrist and shoulder at the same time

[Three44s]

I shoot a 250 gr. boolit over 12 gr. of HS-6 out of my Super Blackhawk. Good utility loading.

Good Indeed!

As to heavy loads for the uninitiated or excessive loads in a 629, I don’t go there.

If you want a heavy load for yourself then a Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk in .44mag. stoked with the Lee 310 gr GC and a full charge (per load manual) of H110 ought to cure the itch.

Three44s

[derek45]

24gr H110/win296 and a 240gr is about as hot as I'd go in a S&W

this is 31.5gr H110 over a 180gr XTP, less muzzle flip, more flash and velocity

https://i.imgur.com/WX4wS3F.jpg

the LEE 310gr FP is a monster with a max load of magnum powder ( note 45ACP brass for size comparison )

https://i.imgur.com/RxHcPw0.jpg

[44Blam]

24gr H110/win296 and a 240gr is about as hot as I'd go in a S&W

this is 31.5gr H110 over a 180gr XTP, less muzzle flip, more flash and velocity

https://i.imgur.com/WX4wS3F.jpg

the LEE 310gr FP is a monster with a max load of magnum powder ( note 45ACP brass for size comparison )

https://i.imgur.com/RxHcPw0.jpg

The fireball pic is a GREAT shot!

[toallmy]

Just a word of caution , I handed a young family member a 44 in the 80s that he wanted to shoot , he gripped it with both hands & let it rip . He is a grown man now with a scar on his forehead from the hammer - thank goodness it wasn't his eyes .

[dale2242]

I can`t speak for the S&W 629 but I had a S&W M29.
This was the early days of IHMSA.
It was totally wore out in 5K full house rounds.
These are not tough guns.
If you want to shoot a lot of hot 44 Mag loads buy a Ruger.
The SBH or the RH will take it.

[JSnover]

I want to make a few 44 MAG wrist breaker cartridges as a "That's not a knife, this is a knife" type thing for the guests that I bring to the range that want to shoot "the big stuff". It has to be something that a six inch Smith and Wesson 629 can handle as I know the 629 is a little more delicate when compared to the Ruger revolvers that are built like tanks.

What powder and bullet combinations have you all had success with when it came to making a few punishing cartridges?

The 44 Mag is plenty big enough without pushing it. Why don't you hand them a gun full of your favorite loads; the stuff you like to shoot?
Too many stories about people who tried it once and never tried it again because someone handed a new shooter Too Much Gun.

[Tripplebeards]

Pick up a S&W 329NG. It’s an extremely light, 2.5” barreled, titanium pistol. With mild loads it will feel like it brakes your wrist and throw fire balls like you’ve never seen. I put over 200 rounds through it in one session last year while I shimmed the rear sight. Normally after 6 rounds without gloves I don’t want to shoot it again. It’s my conceal and carry pistol.

[dverna]

I don't think this is the best idea. I dunno...Just don't see you getting much advice here on this.

Looks like you underestimated our little band of enablers...LOL!!!

But I agree with you....this is not a good idea on so many levels.

[Mal Paso]

Pick up a S&W 329NG. It’s an extremely light, 2.5” barreled, titanium pistol. With mild loads it will feel like it brakes your wrist and throw fire balls like you’ve never seen. I put over 200 rounds through it in one session last year while I shimmed the rear sight. Normally after 6 rounds without gloves I don’t want to shoot it again. It’s my conceal and carry pistol.

Now you're talking! Or get the S&W 500 with the 4" barrel. Chop and recrown the barrel to get rid of the compensator. 500g JSP over 49g of Lil' Gun.

[bangerjim]

H110 is the ONLY powder I use to make full-house 44M loads. The stuff was designed for it! I rarely shoot them except when a friend at the range wants to get up close and personal with "the most powerful hand gun made by man" according to Harry. I always have at least 20 available for demonstration to unwary onlookers (suckers)!

I mostly light load 44M and 44SPL cases to shoot like 45LC loads. My bone doctor agrees!!!!!!!!

[JoeJames]

The 44 Mag is plenty big enough without pushing it. Why don't you hand them a gun full of your favorite loads; the stuff you like to shoot?
Too many stories about people who tried it once and never tried it again because someone handed a new shooter Too Much Gun.I agree 100%. Other than showing how tough one is, and scaring off potential new shooters, I fail to see the point. A couple of years ago I let a buddy shoot my Ruger BH in 44 Special. He had never shot one before. It was running about 894 fps with a 240 grain swc's. He was grinning after the first couple of rounds. H was afraid it would be a thumper. He went ahead and shot some more rounds. He had no idea it would be so pleasant to shoot.

[44Blam]

One thing I really like to do with 44 mag is to bring my three standard 44 mag loads.
Trailboss: ~700 or so fps
Unique: ~1100 fps
W296: ~1450 fps

I put them in Trailboss, Unique, W296. This lets people know that the 44 magnum round can be very different things.

[Carrier]

When I take new shooters out and we get through .22 and light 38 loads and they want to shoot a 44 magnum then it’s Elmers gallery load of 5 grains of Bullseye with a 240 SWC. When they get comfortable with that then we start moving up to 44 special loads in 44 mag brass and some do get up to full magnum loads but that usually takes a couple of trips to the range.
I’ve yet to have any develop a bad flinch.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I simply would not do that to a novice shooter.

[Texas by God]

FFFG to the base of the lubed lead bullets. Not bad recoil but oh, the show!

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[Thumbcocker]

Best way I can think of to ruin a potential new handgunner.

[leadhead]

Well said Thumbcocker. Why would anyone want to discourage a new shooter by doing this?
Besides that, it looks like an accident waiting to happen. Don't do it....
leadhead

[RKJ]

Back when I was young and bulletproof I shot Keith's load of 22.0 grains of 2400 quite a bit out of a 6" 629. My wrist was pretty tender the next day. When I was just starting out with pistols and long before I got the S&W I had a boss that thought it funny to start me out with easy loads in a SBH for 6 rounds then gave me max loads the next 6. I just about had that front sight embedded in my forehead, I didn't much trust him after that.

[243winxb]

Wrist breakers are also gun breakers. Newer guns have an Endurance Package. My OLD 29-2. Repaired in 2018.

[Alferd Packer]

l would say just buy a box of .44 mag hunting loads but they want and arm and a leg anymore for those loads.
The heavier the bullet, the heavier the recoil.
Load a few 300 grain starting loads from the reload recipes,then try a few reloads halfway between those loads and the max loads listed.
I'll bet that will satisfy you and not hurt the gun any.
Just make sure you get a good crimp on those .44 mag 300 grain loads for complete powder burn and you will get plenty healthy recoil.
You also need that crimp to keep the last couple loads in the cylinder from being pulled out of the cases from the recoil of the first four shots.
I would reserve the full blown max loads shown to shoot from a super Redhawk.
The max loads will pein the crane and cylinder holes on a Smith and ruin any accuracy the gun possessed as well as reducing that fine gun to rattily junk. All IMHO. Seen it done by others.

[Tripplebeards]

…and after “one” pull of the trigger with a power load it’s not fun imo anymore…its punishment on your hand and your pistol. Here is my S&W 329NG next to my Anaconda…

https://i.imgur.com/rIx3mp8.jpg

Most people I know have the 4.5” barreled version of the 329NG. To be honest I wish mine was since the longer barreled version has adjustable sights. My 2.5” version is pretty accurate out to 30 yards. I’ve never tested it at longer distances. A mild to starting load in the 329NG with a 240 grain bullet is more than most can tolerate for recoil.

[Burnt Fingers]

I really can't give my comments on this thread...I'd be banned for doing so.

But giving load advice to a person seeking this type of load is playing with fire.

We're a litigious society, I fear that sooner, rather than later, someone is going to lose their house because they foolishly gave load advice on a thread like this.

[bangerjim]

I agree. I WILL mention names of individual powders and weights/designs of boolits but NEVER EVER give out specific loads for anything! There is enough proven data in load books and maker's websites to provide anyone with a computer and half a brain enough actual tested load data to keep them busy for a long time.

[Hanzy4200]

Recoil is a very subjective thing. It can be a rush, and I got hooked myself. I went big with the .500 Linebaugh. Full house load with that, are my limit. I am man enough to admit that. It is the only gun that I own that I typically wear gloves when firing it. If there is something out there much worse, I want no part of it.

[tdoor4570]

There is no need to build heavy wrist breaking loads unless YOU are going to shoot them. If some one wants to shoot your gun just say NO. there is no need to make some one hate to shoot, It doesn't do our sport any good at all.

[dverna]

Nice to hear a few voices of reason and common sense.

[waksupi]

We throw people off our ranges who intentionally make hot loads for new shooters. Great way to make new anti-gunners. Don't be a jerk.

[onelight]

Wrist breakers are also gun breakers. Newer guns have an Endurance Package. My OLD 29-2. Repaired in 2018.
I sure need to send mine in for the same work I bought it in the mid 70s I have put a shim kit bandaid in it to fix the end shake but but it needs that fixed properly and the barrel set back and the forcing cone recut.
You have inspired me :)

[bowfin]

I simply would not do that to a novice shooter.

I agree.

But if you are willing to see somebody get hurt or your gun flying across the range, knock yourself out...maybe even literally.

[fredj338]

If you want max recoil go 300-320gr pushed by max load of W296/H110. Recoil & blast are impressive.

[fredj338]

I agree 100%. Other than showing how tough one is, and scaring off potential new shooters, I fail to see the point. A couple of years ago I let a buddy shoot my Ruger BH in 44 Special. He had never shot one before. It was running about 894 fps with a 240 grain swc's. He was grinning after the first couple of rounds. H was afraid it would be a thumper. He went ahead and shot some more rounds. He had no idea it would be so pleasant to shoot.

Well that is because you didnt give him a 44mag to shoot. I agree though about new shooters & surprise magnum loads. Its just stupid.

[358429]

Whose idea is it to intentionally give somebody something that could hurt them that's really stupid!!

Who would think that they could sue somebody, somebody who repeated data, what they saw in a book? Why don't they just follow the money, sue hodgdon and lyman if their gun pops?

I was under the impression that this thread was to seek a consensus for safe load data as a demonstration of what 44 Magnum is safely capable of.

Loading 44 magnum dangerous off the reservation max loads and handing them to somebody who's not expecting them is so incredibly stupid... is that what this thread is about??

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[JSnover]

Whose idea is it to intentionally give somebody something that could hurt them that's really stupid!!

Who would think that they could sue somebody, somebody who repeated data, what they saw in a book? Why don't they just follow the money, sue hodgdon and lyman if their gun pops?

I was under the impression that this thread was to seek a consensus for safe load data as a demonstration of what 44 Magnum is safely capable of.

Loading 44 magnum dangerous off the reservation max loads and handing them to somebody who's not expecting them is so incredibly stupid... is that what this thread is about??

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Sounds like it to me:

"I want to make a few 44 MAG wrist breaker cartridges as a "That's not a knife, this is a knife" type thing for the guests that I bring to the range that want to shoot "the big stuff". It has to be something that a six inch Smith and Wesson 629 can handle as I know the 629 is a little more delicate when compared to the Ruger revolvers that are built like tanks.

What powder and bullet combinations have you all had success with when it came to making a few punishing cartridges?"

The OP hasn't been back to clarify but it sounds like he wants to laugh like a ******* while a 'guest' of his tries to shake the pain out of their wrist and elbow.

[Daekar]

I think there are a lot of assumptions being made in this thread, perhaps based on negative previous experiences. The scenario presented by the OP does not require that the guest shooter of these loads be a hapless victim of a cruel joke. In fact, what they describe can be very useful in illustrating the wide range of power that can span across guns or even a single cartridge. It is common for some types of shooters to be curious and want to try "the big stuff," and as long as they are given sufficient warning and instruction in recoil management there is no reason to deny them the experience.

I have had guests that were excited to shoot my Mauser, for instance, precisely because it is a powerful cartridge. Honestly, I don't enjoy shooting full power 198gr loads out of it, but they certainly did. I have seen similar things elsewhere - an older gentleman with a Contender pistol in 45-70 was constantly being asked if he would let others shoot it at the range precisely because the recoil was visibly extraordinary.

The key here is information. In the Crocodile Dundee scenario in the OP, the very nature of the demonstration is contingent on the fact that the shooter has been informed of the impressive power of the gun before shooting it. I think it's a mistake to assume that the OP is a jerk based solely on the evidence in the thread.